Longo riding high

Variously depicted as "the Cannibal", and "Joan of Arc", French cyclist Jeannie Longo is on target to become one of the oldest medal winners in Sydney. At 41 years of age, she has competed at every Olympics since 1984 in Los Angeles, when women were first allowed to get on their bikes at the Games.

She first mounted the podium in 1992 in Barcelona when she won the silver medal in the road race. Four years later in Atlanta she finally struck gold in the same discipline, adding the silver medal in the time trial for good measure.

As well as her success in Atlanta, she is also the proud winner of 12 world championships - five in the road race, three each in the time trial and pursuit categories and one on points. She has won three female Tour de France titles and has frequently lowered her own world record for the hour, the most recent landmark being her 48.159 kms in Mexico.